Reel



G. F. MILLER REEL Fiied May 24, 1944 W// I I// r E W m a w 0 f a m Patented June 5, 1945 This invention relates to reels and more particularly to thattype of'reel adaptedfor usewith clotheslinesor the-like. l l 1 A primaryobject of the invention is the provision of such areel which will facilitate'the handling of the line, permitting'it to-be lowered or tightened to any requisitedegree as desired.

An additional objectais the provision of such a device which may 'be readily positioned for use i and removed when it has served its purpose;

A stilli further object is the provision of such aireel which will be eflicient and reliable in op eration; compact in size andasturdyandrdurable H in operation. a a a a Amore specific object is the provision of a reel provided-witha rachetand'pawl device for tensioning the line and provided: witht ar relative long lever to permit the-exertion ofwa substantial force thereon, but which may beioldedinto a relatively compactsspace and adapted to serve as a reinforcing member for the frame; l Other'objects will in part beohvious andi part pointedout hereinafter. v v y l Having reference now: to the: accompanying drawing wherein there is shown: a:preferred em: bodiment of this: inventive concept:

Figure- 1 is afrontelevationalviewrpartly in section. l. v

Figure 2 l is an end elevationalview of the; device a so Figure 31 is ar-sectional viewtaken lalongcthe of Figure 1: asviewed from theleft, and J:

line -3-- 3 of :Figure 1 as viewedzfroma theright.

Similar referencexcharactersrreferxto similar parts throughout :the' several. views ofuthedraw ing,

' Having now particular reference to Figure 1 there is generallysindicated'; at Ill iaiadrum or reel. Reel llltis comprised noffia cylindrical portion H v at: theopposite ends-of which are'positioned cir collar-flanges IZLand l3; Reel 10 has an axially disposed bore therethrough: through which is passed a shaft: I4 secured in tightly and firmly in v any suitable manner toreel mutandmounted inwa manner to be hereinafter;described to permit rtation of reel lil. Flanges [Zand l3 areprovided with radial ribs I5 (see Figuresrzand 3) for the purpose: of reinforcing the same and preventin theircleformation when arope or similar article is wound onreel I0; Flange. 13 has a hole l6 therethrough inwhich one end of the: rope (not shown) may be secured. y

l A frame m is provided for the mounting oi reel Wandis-Fcomprised of anupper transverse,

member 21 at the opposite-ends of which: two

legs 22 and N -extend vertically downward-tat right angles therefrom; Begin is-provided at its extremity with an enlargedllower end portion 24 having-a circularaperture therethrough(see-Figure 3) designed toaccommodate and support one T endof shaft l l rotatably therein.

It may here be pointed out thatleg 22 is-of substantially greater length than .leg 23", andLit is provided, approximatelyvmidwayof itsolengthand in alignmentwith portion fljlwith ausimilar enlarged portion 26 having an aperture 2 'lwtherethrough @(see Figure 2); in which. the opposite end: of -shaft i 4 is journaled: Adjacent the lower extremity of le l: which terminates mean angularly formed end 28 isra: lateral recess Hall for apurpose' to loeomore fullyw pointed out hereinafter. l i

Having reference nowto the mountingof frame the transverse member 2| is, as best shown in Figure 3; If-shaped incross section and 1 adapted slidably 'to engage in a channeled recess-30 in the under sideof a mounting member- 3L One end of channel 3U is-openand the otherclosed as by an endplate 32. Suitable counter-sunk holes are provided in the closed top side of member 3! through whichscrews-notshown; may be, passed for securing the devicein: any desired location, i

the counter-sinking Ofl suchholes permitting heads of the screws to clear channel 3| whereby member 2| offrame'fll may be readily: slid in and out: of: channel 30. I

Frame 20 is securedlinrmountingi member 3| by means :1 of a latch; 33' pivotallyimountedu by a pivot: 34-onlegr22iof frame 20; Latch 33 has an offset end portion 35 adaptedlto engage-end plate 32 whenwswungiintmclosed position; by means of ,a-zhandleportion 36,and into parallel alignmentzwith leg 22,. thusiholding .therelative parts against'tslippagel, It maywhere :be pointed out that member; 21 is alsoyprovidedrwith a cenetrally disposed hook "31 l on; the inner face thereof, the. purposeofwhich willrbemore fullyrset out thereinafter. l i l l Referringzyvbach toreeLLIOMand the mounting thereof, a collar llliisaipositioned on the shaft M betweenmernber 2.4 and-flange yl3xand'serves to space the reel suitahly' fromv operating: mocha;- nisni now tobe described. l t l The endof sha'ft Hi extends through the aperture in the part1 and a: substantial distance beyond, andisecured:to' thistextended portion of the shaftis=a-ratchet 4|; On opposite sides of ratchet and mounted fordrotation on 'shaft 14 are the opposite side pieces and 43 of a ratchet extendin handle generally indicated at 44, between which side piecesais a filler member 45 of any suitable material, the two side pieces and the filler being secured in related assembly as by rivets 46.

Handle 44 is provided at a mid portion with a hinge pin 50 whereby the outer portion thereof may be swung and positioned at right angles in a direction towards leg 22 to form a substantially rectangular frame when latched (see Figure 1). The end portion of handle 44 has positioned therein between the two side members aspring forcing a latch 52 into engagement with recess 29 of leg 22, and the tapered end 28 facilitating the insertion of the end of leg 22 into a recess 53 in the outer end portion of handle 44.

An outwardly extending portion 54 of latch 52 having a rightangled portion 55 at the extremity thereof is movable inwardly to permit release of the latch from recess 29 whereby the now horizontally disposed part of handle 44 may be swung downwardly into straight line position with relation to the vertical part thereof thereby greatly increasing the leverage which it may transmit.

Referring back now to ratchet 4| there is located adjacent thereto a ratchet dog 58 pivotally mounted on leg .23 of frame 28 as by a pivot 59 andprovided withan extending handle 60 serving as a weight to hold the dog in engagement with ratchet 4| whereby the same may be pressed by hand and precluded from movement when desired.

Likewise adjacent ratchet 4| is a pawl 6| provided with a releasing, handle 62 and secured in position in a suitable recess between side members 42 and 43 of handle 44.

Pawl BI is: mounted on a pivot 63 and forced towards ratchet 4| by means of a double armed spring 64 having a coiled end secured to one of therivets 46 (seeFigure 3).

' Thepawl 6| has an offset near its pivot to be engaged by one end of the spring 64 to releasably secure said pawl in disengaged position, the other end of the spring abutting the opposite side of the pawl 6| directly and laterally opposite and in a horizontal plane coincident with the axis of the pivot of the pawl,

Secured to shaft |4 beyond side 43 of handle 44 is a crank to which is secured a handle 1| by means of a screw 12 passed througha central bore in the handle and threadedly engaging crank l8, whereby upon release of dog 58 reel I!) may be manually rotated.

Now from the foregoing the operation of this device should be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In placing the device in operation, member 3| is first positioned as above stated in a desired location. A rope may 'then have one end secured through aperture HS and coiled about portion ll of reel Ill. The free end is formed into a bight and secured on hook 31. Section 2| of frame 2|] is theninserted in the channel of member 3| and latched in position by latch 33. The free end of the rope is then released from the hodk 3'! and upon release of dog 58 the rope may be uncoiled and extended to a desired point, sufficient slack being present to allow the line to sag to a height convenient for hanging clothes. Latch 52 is now released and, handle 44 extended. Operation of this handle oscillatorily on the shaft I4 and thereby actuating the ratchet and pawl means 4| and 6| results in tensioning the line to any desired degree, and when such tension is achieved ratchet wheel 4| is locked by dog 58 and handle 44 returned to and latched in'itsfolded position.v V

When the device has served its purpose, dog 58 is again released, the rope coiled by means of handle H and the bight at the end of the rope secured over hook 31. Latch 33 is then released and frame removed from channel member 38, whereupon handle 44 folded and locked serves as a convenient means for carrying the device as well as a reinforcement therefor.

Now from the foregoing it will be seen that there is herein provided a relatively simple and durable device accomplishing all the objects of the device and many others of great practical utility.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and many modifications made in the embodiment herein shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set out is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: 1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a frame member comprised of a transverse portion T shaped in cross section and two legs extending at right angles thereto, one of greater length, a shaft journaled for rotation in the end of one of and the mid portion of another of said legs, a reel secured to said shaft, a ratchet mounted on said shaft extension of said shorter leg, a pawl handle pivotally mounted on said shaft, a pawl pivoted to said handle adjacent said ratchet, said pawl handle being of a length substantially equal to the differencebetween said shorter and longer legs plus said transverse portion, andhinged at a point whereby the section thereof equal in length to said transverse portion may be folded at right angles to the section thereof equal to the difference between said longer and shorterlegs to engage the end of said longer leg to form a substantially rectangular frame.

2. In a device of the character described, in

adjacent said ratchet, said pawl handle being 1 of a length substantially equal to the difference between said shorter and longer legs plus said transverse portion, and hinged at a point whereby the section thereof equal in length to said transverse portion may be folded at right angles to the section thereof equal to the difference-between said longer and shorter legs to engage the end of said longer leg to form a substantially rectangular frame, and latch means for latching the end of said firstmentioned section to the end of said longer leg.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a frame member comprised 'of a transverse portion T shaped in cross section and two legs extending at right angles thereto, one of greater length, a shaftjournaled for rotation in the end of one of and the mid portion of another of said legs, a reel secured to said shaft, a ratchet mounted on said shaft extension of said shorter leg, a pawl handle pivotally mounted on said shaft, a pawl pivoted to the handle adjacent said ratchet,said pawl handle being of a length. sub-, stantially equal to the; difference between said shorter and longer legs plus said transverse portion, and hinged at a point whereby the section thereof equal in length to said transverse portion may be folded at right angles to the section thereof equal to the difference between saidlonger and shorter legs to engage the end of said longer leg to form a substantially rectangular frame, and a ratchet dog mounted on said shorter leg for securing said ratchet against rotation.

4. In adevice of the character described, in

transverse portion T shaped in cross section and two legs extending at right angles thereto, one

, of greater length, a shaft journaled for rotation in the end of one of and the mid portion of portion may be folded at right angles to the section thereof equal to the difference between said and shorter legs to engage the end of said longer leg to form a substantially rectangular frame,

, combination, a frame member comprised of a mounting means for said frame comprising a channel carrying mounting member adapted to be secured to a surface and into which said transverse portion T shaped in cross section may be slid, said mounting member having an end plate at one end, and a latch mounted on said longer leg adapted to engage said end plate to hold said frame and said mountingmember in related assembly.

6. In a device of the character described, in

combination, a substantially rectangular open H frame, a drum rotatably mounted at its opposite ends in the end members of said frame, a ratchet I secured to said drum coaxially at one end thereof,

longer and shorter legs to engage the end of said longer leg to form a substantially rectangular frame, and mounting means for said frame comprising a channel carrying mounting, members adapted to be secured to a surface and into which said transverse portion T shaped in cross section maybe slid.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, a frame member comprised of a transverse portion T shaped in cross section and two legs extending at right anglesthereto, one of greater length, a shaft journaled for rotation in the endof one of and the mid portion ofanother of said legs, a reel secured to said shaft, a ratchet mounted on said shaft extension of said shorter leg, a pawl handle pivotally mounted on said shaft, a pawlpivotedto the handle adjacent said ratchet, said pawl handle being of a length sub- [stantially equal to the difference between said shorter and longer legs plus said transverse portion, andhinged at a point whereby the section thereof equal in length to said transverse portion may be folded at right angles to the section thereof equal to the difference betweensaid longer a pawl pivoted on an adjacent end portion of the frame and normally releasably engaging said ratchet, and a foldable handle having a pawl thereon normally releasably engaging said ratchet, said handle when folded comprising a part of said frame. i l

7. In a device of the character described, in

combination, a substantially rectangular open frame, a drum rotatably mounted at its opposite ends in, end members of the frame, a ratchet secured to said drum coaxially at one end thereof, a

foldable handle associated with said ratchet and carrying a releasable pawl normally inengagement with said ratchet, said handle ,when folded comprising a part of said frame; and a dog mounted movably on an adjacent frame portion in cooperative relation to and jcapable of releasably locking said ratchet at the will of an operator. a

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, a substantially rectangular open frame, a drum rotatably mounted at its opposite ends in end members of the frame, a ratchet secured to said drum coaxially with one end thereof, a foldable handle associated with said ratchet and carrying a releasable pawl normally in engagement with said ratchet, said handle when folded comprising a part of said frame, means for releasably locking said handle in folded frameforming position, and means including a dog movably mounted on an adjacent part of the frame for releasably engaging and locking said ratchet. I

GEORGE F. MIILER. 

